Kanoute latest big name to head for China

China's growing popularity as the preferred destination for ageing former English Premier League football players shows no sign of slowing with striker Frederic Kanoute completing a move to the Chinese Super League side Beijing Guoan.

Kanoute's former club Sevilla said the 34-year-old had agreed a two-year deal with the Beijing club.

Malian Kanoute spent seven successful years in Spain after plying his trade at English clubs Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United.

The transfer adds to the ever growing list of big foreign signings made by Chinese clubs in recent times.

Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba recently followed his former Chelsea team-mate Nicolas Anelka in making a lucrative move to big-spending Chinese Super League strugglers Shanghai Shenhua.

Another African striker - Blackburn Rovers and Nigerian forward Yakubu Aiyegbeni - is close to completing a move to Super League side Guangzhou Fuli, according to media reports.